Holidaymakers are rushing to book trips to destinations added to the Government’s quarantine-free list.
Firms are experiencing a surge in demand for locations such as Spain’s Balearic Islands and Malta.
They are among 14 countries and territories moved to the green list on Thursday.
Price comparison website TravelSupermarket said Barbados went from being its 12th most-searched-for country by package holiday customers to number two, following the Government’s announcement.
Flights to Amsterdam to restart from Southampton Airport ✈️@KLM_UK are scheduled to relaunch flights on 28th June to @Schiphol with an initial frequency of 4 per week. pic.twitter.com/GCY9PQEw16
— Southampton Airport ✈️ (@SOU_Airport) June 18, 2021
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Sky News that the changes to the green list provide “a little bit of relief for the travel industry and for people who wish to get away”.
He added: “It won’t be quite like it was in 2019 and the old days, but we are moving in a positive direction.”
However, all of the additions except Malta were also put on a watchlist, which means they are at risk of returning to the amber list.
Flights to Alderney are back ✈️
— Southampton Airport ✈️ (@SOU_Airport) June 25, 2021
Aurigny have confirmed that they will be restarting flights from Southampton to Alderney from 1st July, operating multiple flights per day.
Discover more https://t.co/5ntGtR6JUA pic.twitter.com/B8SJilKBm9
The full list of destinations moved to the green list comprises:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Balearic islands
- Barbados
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Madeira
- Malta
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Islands
- Turks and Caicos Islands
A number of popular hotspots such as France, Greece, Italy and mainland Spain remain in the amber tier.
Travellers returning to the UK from those locations must self-isolate at home for 10 days, making holidays unviable for many people.
Mr Shapps held out the prospect that people visiting amber countries who had received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine would no longer need to quarantine later this summer.
Where can we go from Southampton Airport?
With few European places still not on the green list, you may think options are slightly limited.
BUT there are a few options to choose from.
- Ibiza
- Majorca
- Gibraltar
Gibraltar Is Still Green!
— Southampton Airport ✈️ (@SOU_Airport) June 21, 2021
Gibraltar is currently the only Mediterranean destination on the UK’s green list. It boasts around 300 days of sunshine, breathtaking views, natural attractions and a unique heritage & culture.
Fly direct with @EasternAirways https://t.co/ofIFEIOnUW pic.twitter.com/acsDssv5mn
With destinations in 'Common Travel Areas', if you have not been outside of the CTA in the previous 10 days, you do not need to:
- complete the UK passenger locator form
- take any COVID-19 travel tests
- quarantine on arrival in England
Find out more about Common Travel Areas here
Some rules apply to other areas though like Guernsey below.
Guernsey: From July 1, if you are fully vaccinated and 14 days have passed since your second vaccination, there will be no isolation or testing requirements if you are arriving from the Common Travel Area. This means you will be in the “blue channel” travel category.
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